Interchangeable honda



Jan. 12, 1965 c. WELTON 3,165,091

INTERCHANGEABLE HONDA Filed April 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Charles L. Wehon ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,165,091 INTERCHANGEABLE HONDA, Charles L. Walton, Saratcga, Wyo.

Filed Apr. 22, 1963, SenNo. 274,622 6 Claims. (Cl. 119153) operations, the lariat is still used in much the same way as it was used by the old-time cowboy of the open range. Actually, there has been. little change in lariat construction for many years beyond the fact that nylon rope may be used instead of manila hemp because of the much greater strength and resilience of the nylon. The ordinary lariat is formed by tying a honda at one end-of a rope, a knottedor spliced eye, through which the other end of the rope is passed to form a running noose. This honda or eye may be protected by a leather or like shield to take the wear and extend its life. Actually, it is a common practice to tie a honda at an end of a rope and when the eye of the honda wears out and breaks, to tie another honda and continue to use the rope. This practice, using manila ropes, was not considered especially objectionable because by the time the rope was shortened by repeated knot tying to such a degree that it was not useful as a lariat, it was substantially worn out. With the recent introduction of more expensive, but superior nylon ropes as lariats,

' this practice has become objectionable and there has developed a definite need for an improvement in honda construction which will save the main rope.

A number of specialized types of hondas have been developed for lariats which are used for rope tricks and for exhibition purposes, such developments generally entailing a swivel type connection which permits the lasso to be spun by a novice as well as by a professional rope trickster. Also other special devices have been developed which facilitate holding the loop of the lariat open as it is being spun or for performing other tricks. However, these specialized constructions are of no value in providing a better lariat for working cattle. About the only activity which a cowman desires a special lariat for is to practice lassoing in order to improve his skill.

With the above consideration in view, the present invention was conceived and developed and comprises, in essence, a simplified honda construction for a cowmans lariat including a small, rigid head which is affixed to the end of the lariat rope and a short, interchangeable eye outstanding from this head.

It follows that an object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved interchangeable honda for a cowmans lariat, which permits the eye of the honda to be changed without the necessity of cutting, retying, and shortening the main lariat rope.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved honda for a cowmans lariat which provides for a Well balanced unit and a balanced, straight eye loop which will not twist but will remain open and in a proper position at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved interchangeable honda for a cowmans lariat having an eye loop which may be formed of a tough strong material such as nylon but with the lariat rope being of ;any other type of material such' as of manila.

3,165,9l Patented Jan. 12, 1965 Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved-interchangeable honda for a cowmans rope which includes a small, rigid, substantially unbreakable head of compact light-weight material and which is too light to bruise an animal if it hits the animal.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved. honda for a cowmans lariat which, in a modifiedform, is adapted to provide a break-away eye and is especially suitable for practice lassoing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved honda for a cowmans lariat which, in a further modified form is adapted to provide either a fixed eye for regular lassoing or a break-away eye for practice lassoing.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved honda construction for a cowmans lariat which is a simple, neat-appearing, low-cost, rugged and durable unit.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more fully hereinafter appear, my invention comprises certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts and elements as hereinafter described, defined in the appended claims and illustrated in preferred embodiments in the accompanying drawing in which: 7

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a lariat having an open loop and illustrating the improved honda thereon.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of an end portion of a lariat and of the improved honda attached thereto. FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the head portion of the honda per se, as taken from the indicated line 3--3 at FIG. 2, but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 4. is a sectional, elevational view of the head portion as taken from the indicated line 44 at FIG. 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectionaLelevational view as [taken from the indicated line'55 at FIG. 4.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a lariat using a modified form of the improved honda of a type having a' break-away eye, and showing the manner in which the eye opens as when the lariat is snubbed about a post as for lasso practice.

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a modified construction of a honda having an eye loop which is adapted to open.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a fragmentary portion of an end of an eye loop, such as illustrated at FIG. 7, but on an enlarged scale. I

FIGURES is a sectional view 'as-taken from the indicated line 9-9 at FIG. 8, but on a further enlarged scale.

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 2,

but showing. another modified construction of a honda having an eye' loop whichmay be either alfixed as .for

work or to be pulled open as for practice. FIGURE '11 is a fragmentary sectional portion of an end ofanl eye loop such as illustrated at FIG. 10,,but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 12 is a transverse sectional detail as taken from the indicated line 12 12 art FIG. 10, but on an enlarged scale. f

FIGURE :13 is a fragmentary sectional detail as taken from the indicated line 1313 at FIG. 12.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 13, but showing the elements in a modified position adaptedto permit an opening of the honda eye. a

, Referring more particularly to the drawing, a typical lariat as illustrated at FIG. 1, includes a lasso rope 10 which may be a 3-strand laid rope'of manila or nylon having a diameter of approximately one-half inch. This rope may also be of other lays and other materials and types such as braided rope. The honda 11 at the end of to form a running rioose 13.

portion of the lariat ,honda.

illustrated at FIG,. 2, isformed about a rigid head 14, a small box-shaped unit of aluminum or similar lightweight metal having passageways extending through it. A central passageway 15 extends through this head, as from a base portion 16 to the top 17,: and this passageway is of a diameter adapted to slidably, but snugly, receive anend of a lariat rope 16. A pair of side passageways 18 also extend through this head, from the base 16 to the top 17 to lie closely alongside, at opposite sides of, and in spaced parallelism withthe central passageway 15. The diameter of these; side passageways 18 is such as to slidably, but snugly, receive the ends of a rope loop 19 which forms the eye 12 of the honda.

The size and spacing of the passageways 15 and 18 are such as to provide for a compactly-formed unit without excess material and Weight. As shown in the drawing, the passageways are close to each other, and actually this closeness should be such that the wall portion between adjacent passageways should be less than one-half diameter of the passageways. The top of the head is suitably chamfered about the edges thereof and the central portion is formed with a cradle-like depression 26 at each side of the central passageway 15. The bottom or base side of the head is flattened about each side passageway 18 and a short projecting chamfered ring-like portion 21 is formed about the central passageway 15. The cradle 20, at the top and the projection 21 at the base, are formed to facilitate spacing knotted ends of the honda rope 19 and of the loop 19 from adjacent rope portions and to balance the general appearance and form of the head.

. This head 14 is permanently secured to the end of the lariat rope by threading the rope through the central passageway 15, as from the base end to the top end and by then tying a crown knot 22 at the end of the rope above the top of the crown to prevent the lariat rope from being pulled out of this passageway. The crown knot 22 effectively anchors the head 14 at the end of the rope it). It is to be recognized that other forms of knotting and other means may be used to enlarge the end of the'rope'so that it will act as an effective stop to secure the head onto the rope.

.l The eye 12 of the honda is formed as a short length of rope preferably nylon, which forms a half loop 19. The ends of this short loop may be threaded through the side passageways 1S, and a crown knot 23 or the like, is

' then tied at each end of this rope 19 to anchor the loop outer sideof the loop. a This pad is effective in protecting the rope fibers against wear when a rope is being pulled therethrough and will materially increase the life of the loop. This pad may .be of leather or like suitable material orlnay even be formed of a tough type of resin molded in place. v

It follows that this simple operation of forming a hands, by stringing the lariat rope 19 through the central passageway andthe ends of the eye loop 19 through the side passageways 18 in the head 14, complete the honda and if desired, the owner of the lasso may conveniently stamp his name on the head of the honda in order to identifyhis equipment when the apparatus is ready for use.

lti's apparent that a lasso having the improved honda may be used in any conventional manner. Also, while nylon is a preferred type of rope for the loop 19', other types of rope may also be used, for this is an expendible While it is worn through repeateduse, the loop 19 and 'its leather covering pad are simply replaced.

The improved honda hereinabove described .may be easily modified to become a practice lariat. In lasso prac- I tice, itis desirable tobe ableito quickly release the noose whenever the throw is true and the object is caught. This is especially desirable if the cowman is riding a horse and if the lasso practice is with live animals. The ideal way of so releasing the lariat is to have a break-away type of honda eye 12 and such may be provided in the present invention by a simple modification of the loop 19 as in the manner illustrated at FIGS. 79.

Referring more particularly to these figures and to FIG. 6, the honda head 11a is in many respects the same as hereinbefore described. The head 14 is not changed at all, and the main rope 19 extends through the central passageway 15 to be secured thereto as by a knot 22 as afore described. The modified eye 12a is afiixed to one side of the head and is releasable from the other side. The eye loop is formed as a short length of rope having one end extending through a side passageway 18 and secured therein as by a knot 23. The loop may also be protected by an arched pad 24 at its crotch. However, the other end of this eye loop 1% is removable and is encased in a ferrule 26 which is adapted to be inserted into a side passageway 18 with a slid able, frictional fit. This fit is such that the ferrule 26 is released when any substanitial pull is exerted thereon, as when a post is lassoed and the noose is snubbed up such as in the manner illustrated at FIG. 6.

This ferrule 26 may be constructed in any of a number of Ways, however, in preferred construction, it is tapered somewhat for easy insertion into a passageway 18. It may also include a flattened portion 2'7 at its end to better grip the walls of the passageway 18 when inserted and to better hold it in position since a simple taper con struction will not always operate satisfactorily after it is used repeatedly for many times. it is further contern plated that portions of this ferrule 25 may be formed in such a manner as to provide resilient gripping of the wall of the passageway 18. One way of accomplishing this is to form the ferrule as a wrap-around member which embraces the end of the loop portion 19:: with a small lon. gitudinal spacing 28 along one side thereof, as indicated at FIG. 8. The gripping of the ferrule to the rope is not necessarily tight and a connective rivet 29 at the tip 0! the ferrule may be required. When constructed in this manner, at least portions of the ferrule will be slightly larger in diameter than the hole'diameter of passageway 18 so that it may be squeezed into position in the passage with a resulting frictional gripping action.

The construction illustrated at FIGS. 1ll4 provides for a combination type of honda lib which permits the eye 12b to be secured in position or to be released depending upon the desires of the owner thereof. in this modified construction, the head 14b is the same as that hereinbefore described except that a lock 3% is provided in side passageway 13!) near the base of the head to secure the ferrule 265 in that passageway.

This modified ferrule 26b is formed as a rigid tubular member which fits into the passageway 1% with a frictional fit so that when the lock 30 is open, as in the manner hereinafter described, it will be held in the passageway until a substantial pull is exerted upon the noose. Then it will be released from the passageway. The ferrule may be tapered or otherwise distorted to better accomplish this purpose, but it must tightly grip the end of the loop 1&1). The base end of the ferrule is also modified to provide a catch and one mode of forming such a catch, and at the same time of tightly securing the end or" the loop 2% within the ferrule, is to use a comparatively heavy tapered screw, such as a wood screw 31 which is turned into an open base end 32 of the ferrule to compressively secure the fibres of the end of the loop 191) in place. By using a fiat head type of screw a notch 33 is formed between the screw head which will serve as a catch for the lock 3t).

The lock 30 may be formed as a simple wire loop which is inserted into a lateral orifice 3 5 alongside the passageway 28b, with the axis of the orifice 34 being at the tangent of the passageway, as in the manner clearly illustrated at FIG. 12-14. A half-portion of this lock wire therein inserted may be cut away as at the flat portion 35' so that when rotated to one position the wire will project into the passageway 28b to extend into the notch 33 and hold the ferrule in place as illustrated at FIGS. 12 and 13, and when in another position, which may be obtained by a 90-degree rotation of the wire, the fiat will be aligned with the passageway 28!) to permit removal of the ferrule therefrom, as illustrated at FIG. 14.

To form this lock wire 3%) so that it may be easily manipulated, each end 36 thereof which projects from the passageway 34 is wrapped about the side of the head 14b with a snug fit so that the ends will lie in notches 37 on the face of the head in the position clearly illustrated at FIG. 12 and 13. In such position, the fiat 35 will be oriented away from the passageway 18b to permit the wire to extend into the passageway to lock the ferrule 26!; in place. To release the ferrule, the wire ends 36 are sprung out of position and rotated downwardly to a point where the flat 35 is in alignment with the passageway, as in the position illustrated at FIG. 14. This position is underneath the head and alongside the main rope 1t and when the lock wire 30 is so positioned there is little likelihood that it will be shifted out of place during lasso practice, especially if the fit of the wire 30 in the orifice 34 is at all snug.

I have now described my invention in considerable detail, however, it is obvious that others skilled in the art can build and devise alternate and equivalent constructions which are nevertheless within the spirit and scope of the invention. Hence, I desire that my protection be limited, not by the constructions illustrated and described, but only by the proper scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An interchangeable, releasable honda for the end of a lasso practice rope, comprising, in combination therewith:

(a) a short length of rope adapted to be looped to form a honda eye;

(b) a rigid, flat, box-shaped head having three closelyspaced passageways extending through it, as from a bottom surface to the top thereof, and with the passageways constituting a central passageway and opposing side passageways, wherein the end of the lasso rope is adapted to be threaded through the central passageway as from the bottom surface of the head to the top thereof, and the two ends of the honda eye rope are adapted to be threaded through the two side passageways from the top of the head to the bottom thereof;

-(c) a connecting means at the end of the lasso rope and at a first end of the eye rope adapted to enlarge the said rope ends and to lock the respective rope ends in place on the head; and,

(d) a ferrule at the second end of the eye rope adapted to frictionally fit in its respective side passageway to normally hold the eye loop in place on the head, as during lasso practice, but to release under pressure as when an object is caught by the lasso.

2. In the structure defined in claim 1, wherein said ferrule is generally tapered.

3. In the structure defined in claim 1, wherein said ferrule is generally tapered and includes a wide, flattened portion at its end to facilitate gripping action.

4. In the structure defined in claim 1, wherein said ferrule includes a notch in its side and a lock means in the head adapted to selectively disengage and engage with the ferrule, whereby to permit release of the ferrule from the head as during practice lassoing but to secure the eye loop when lassoing to hold objects.

5. In the structure defined in claim 4, wherein said lock means includes a shaft rotatably extending through the head at a position adapted to intercept the ferrule notch when the ferrule is in place and including an offset portion at one side thereof at the point of interception, whereby with the shaft rotated at one position, the offset portion is out of the said notch and with the shaft at another position, the offset portion is in the notch.

6. In the structure defined in claim 1, wherein a portion of the ferrule is split in a generally longitudinal direction and with the ferrule being adapted tobe resiliently squeezed when insented into the passageway.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,758,312 5/30 De Right 24-123 2,643,638 6/53 Villmer 119153 SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

HUGH R. CHAMBLEE, Examiner. 

1. AN INTERCHANGEABLE, RELEASABLE HONDA FOR THE END OF A LASSO PRACTICE ROPE, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION THEREWITH: (A) A SHORT LENGTH OF ROPE ADAPTED TO BE LOOPED TO FORM A HONDA EYE; (B) A RIGID, FLAT, BOX-SHAPED HEAD HAVING THREE CLOSELYSPACED PASSAGEWAYS EXTENDING THROUGH IT, AS FROM A BOTTOM SURFACE TO THE TOP THEREOF, AND WITH THE PASSAGEWAYS CONSTITUTING A CENTRAL PASSAGEWAY AND OPPOSING SIDE PASSAGEWAYS, WHEREIN THE END OF THE LASSO ROPE IS ADAPTED TO BE THREADED THROUGH THE CENTRAL PASSAGEWAY AS FROM THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE HEAD OF THE TOP THEREOF, AND THE TWO ENDS OF THE HONDA EYE ROPE ARE ADAPTED TO BE THREADED THROUGH THE TWO SIDE PASSAGEWAYS FROM THE TOP OF THE HEAD TO THE BOTTOM THEREOF; (C) A CONNECTING MEANS AT THE END OF THE LASSO ROPE AND AT A FIRST END OF THE EYE ROPE ADAPTED TO ENLARGE THE SAID ROPE ENDS AND TO LOCK THE RESPECTIVE ROPE ENDS IN PLACE ON THE HEAD; AND, (D) A FERRULE AT THE SECOND END OF THE EYE ROPE ADAPTED TO FRICTIONALLY FIT IN ITS RESPECTIVE SIDE PASSAGEWAY TO NORMALLY HOLD THE EYE LOOP IN PLACE ON THE HEAD, AS DURING LASSO PRACTICE, BUT TO RELEASE UNDER PRESSURE AS WHEN AN OBJECT IS CAUGHT BY THE LASSO. 